Cutlery dispenser trays

Abstract

A utensil dispensing tray that cooperates with a dispenser. The tray includes at least one feature that causes the utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation for presentation as the utensil drops into the tray. The tray also includes one or more features that result in the utensil being consistently positioned in its second orientation within a dispensing area of the tray.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
 (a) a housing for storing one or more stacks of utensils in a first orientation; 
 (b) a tray located below the one or more stacks of utensils and configured to receive a piece of cutlery from the one more stacks of utensils, the tray further comprising:
 (i) a front and at least one side; 
 (ii) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; 
 (iii) a drop area for receiving a utility end of the piece of cutlery, wherein the drop area is not in the same plane as the presentation area; 
 (iv) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area; 
 (v) an angled receiving surface for receiving the piece of cutlery, the angled receiving surface located on the at least one side of the tray, wherein a handle end of the piece of cutlery contacts the angled receiving surface and is adapted to move ahead of the utility end of the piece of cutlery; and 
 (vi) a ledge for preventing over-rotation of the piece of cutlery as it rotates into a second orientation after contacting the angled receiving surface, the ledge promoting correct positioning of the piece of cutlery within the presentation area of the tray; and 
 
 (c) a presentation opening that is at least partially aligned with the presentation area of the tray. 
 
     
     
       2. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the dispenser stores two stacks of utensils. 
     
     
       3. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is shaped to receive one of a fork, a spoon, a knife or a spork. 
     
     
       4. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 2 , further comprising an anti-jam surface, at least a portion of the anti-jam surface located behind and positioned higher than the angled receiving surface. 
     
     
       5. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the slope of the angled receiving surface is between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 4 , further comprising a second sloped surface connecting the anti-jam surface with the ledge. 
     
     
       7. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more tabs for properly aligning the tray within the dispenser. 
     
     
       8. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a generally planar ledge that extends from the second sloped surface, the generally planar ledge adapted to maintain the utility end of a dispensed piece of cutlery lower than the handle end of the cutlery as the dispensed piece of cutlery rotates toward the presentation area into the second orientation. 
     
     
       9. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a sensor and wherein the presentation area of the tray further comprises an aperture through which a beam associated with the sensor passes. 
     
     
       10. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein a slope of the anti-jam surface is between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
       11. The cutlery dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more ribs on the at least one side of the tray, the one or more ribs adapted to contact the handle end of the piece of cutlery, wherein a dimension of the one or more ribs is generally inversely related to a length of the piece of cutlery. 
     
     
       12. A tray for use within a cutlery dispenser for receiving and presenting single utensils, the tray comprising:
 (a) a front, a back, and two sides; 
 (b) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; 
 (c) a drop area for receiving a utility end of one of the single utensils, the drop area positioned in a plane lower than a plane of the presentation area; 
 (d) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area, wherein the channel receives a mid-section of the utensil; 
 (e) an angled utensil receiving surface located on one of the two sides of the tray such that when a handle end of the utensil contacts the angled receiving surface, the handle end is adapted to move toward the presentation area ahead of the utility end of the utensil; and 
 (f) a ledge adapted to prevent rotation of the utensil beyond about 45 degrees after the utensil contacts the angled receiving surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The tray of  claim 12 , wherein the presentation area further comprises an aperture that corresponds to a sensing beam. 
     
     
       14. The tray of  claim 12 , further comprising an anti-jam surface, at least a portion of the anti-jam surface located behind and positioned higher than the angled receiving surface. 
     
     
       15. The tray of  claim 14 , wherein a slope of the anti-jam surface is between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
       16. The tray of  claim 12 , further comprising ribs on at least one of the sides of the tray, the ribs adapted to contact the handle of the utensil, wherein the dimension of the ribs is generally inversely related to a length of the utensil. 
     
     
       17. The tray of  claim 12 , further comprising tabs for aligning the tray within the dispenser. 
     
     
       18. The tray of  claim 12 , wherein the slope of the angled utensil receiving surface is between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
       19. The tray of  claim 15 , further comprising a second sloped surface connecting the anti-jam surface with the ledge. 
     
     
       20. A tray for use within a cutlery dispenser for receiving and presenting utensils, the tray comprising:
 (a) a front, a back, and two sides; 
 (b) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; 
 (c) a drop area for receiving a utility end of one of the utensils, the drop area positioned in a plane lower than a plane of the presentation area; 
 (d) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area, wherein the channel receives a mid-section of the utensil; and 
 (e) an angled utensil receiving surface located on one of the two sides of the tray, wherein a handle of the utensil contacts the angled utensil receiving surface and is adapted to move toward the presentation area ahead of the utility end of the utensil. 
 
     
     
       21. The tray of  claim 20 , wherein the presentation area further comprises an aperture that corresponds to a sensing beam. 
     
     
       22. The tray of  claim 20 , further comprising an anti-jam surface, at least a portion of the anti-jam surface located behind and positioned higher than the angled receiving surface. 
     
     
       23. The tray of  claim 22 , wherein a slope of the anti-jam surface is between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
       24. The tray of  claim 20 , further comprising ribs on a right side of the tray, the ribs adapted to contact the handle of the utensil, wherein the dimension of the ribs is generally inversely related to a length of the utensil. 
     
     
       25. The tray of  claim 20 , further comprising tabs for aligning the tray within the dispenser. 
     
     
       26. The tray of  claim 20 , wherein the slope of the angled utensil receiving surface is between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
       27. The tray of  claim 22 , further comprising a ledge for preventing rotation of the utensil beyond about 45 degrees after the utensil contacts the angled utensil receiving surface. 
     
     
       28. The tray of  claim 23 , further comprising a second sloped surface connecting the anti-jam surface with the ledge. 
     
     
       29. A tray for use within a cutlery dispenser for receiving and presenting forks, the tray comprising:
 (a) a front, a back, and two sides; 
 (b) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; 
 (c) a drop area for receiving a utility end of one of the forks, the drop area positioned in a plane below a plane of the presentation area; 
 (d) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area, the channel for receiving a mid-section of the fork; and 
 (e) an angled fork receiving surface located on one of the two sides of the tray, wherein a handle of the fork contacts the angled fork receiving surface and is adapted to move toward the presentation area ahead of the utility end of the fork. 
 
     
     
       30. The tray of  claim 29 , wherein the presentation area further comprises an aperture that corresponds to a sensing beam. 
     
     
       31. The tray of  claim 29 , further comprising an anti-jam surface, at least a portion of the anti jam surface located behind and positioned higher than the angled receiving surface. 
     
     
       32. The tray of  claim 31 , wherein a slope of the anti jam surface is between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
       33. The tray of  claim 29 , further comprising ribs on a right side of the tray, the ribs adapted to contact the handle of the fork, wherein the dimension of the ribs is generally inversely related to a length of the fork. 
     
     
       34. The tray of  claim 29 , further comprising tabs for aligning the tray within the dispenser. 
     
     
       35. The tray of  claim 29 , wherein the slope of the angled fork receiving surface is between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
       36. The tray of  claim 31 , further comprising a first ledge adapted to prevent rotation of the fork beyond about 45 degrees after the fork contacts the angled fork receiving surface. 
     
     
       37. The tray of  claim 36 , further comprising a second sloped surface connecting the anti-jam surface with the first ledge. 
     
     
       38. The tray of  claim 37 , further comprising a generally planar ledge that extends from the second sloped surface, the generally planar ledge positioned to maintain the utility end of the fork lower than the handle end of the fork as the fork rotates toward the presentation area. 
     
     
       39. The tray of  claim 31 , further comprising a guide surface that projects from the presentation area toward the back of the tray to help prevent the fork from balancing on one of its sides.